May 7, 2011

Laryngitis

My daughter got it and well, I got it now, so to get a better understanding of it, I did a little research... :-p Whatever it is , I hope we both get better real soon...

Laryngitis refers to inflammation of the voice box or larynx. Very often, it is caused due to overuse or constant irritation of the larynx. In a few cases, laryngitis results from an infection of the larynx, caused by viruses and other disease causing microbes. In normal sound production, the voice cords open and close smoothly, whereas in the case of a patient suffering from laryngitis, the inflammation of voice cords disturbs the passage of sound, resulting in a hoarse or raspy voice. Other signs of laryngitis include a weak voice, dry throat, sore throat and dry cough. In severe inflammation cases, laryngitis leads to temporary loss of voice.
Based on the manifestation of symptoms, laryngitis can be an acute (symptoms lasting for 1-2 weeks) or a chronic (symptoms lasting more than 3 weeks) condition. Most cases are of the acute type, which have shown positive responses with over-the-counter laryngitis medications and effective laryngitis home remedies. A chronic or long-lasting laryngitis condition, characterized by recurrent onset of symptoms, may be an indication of a severe health condition. Hence, timely and correct laryngitis diagnosis is always advisable in order to rule out other medical conditions.

Home Remedies for LaryngitisAs mentioned earlier, acute laryngitis can be treated by following laryngitis remedies. Very often, the symptoms of laryngitis are exacerbated by other medical problems like common cold, flu, strep throat, respiratory tract infection and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Thus, the actual home treatment for laryngitis differs based on the causal factor. For example, if vocal cord strain is the cause, then resting your voice is an effectual home cure for laryngitis. Following are some of the effective laryngitis home remedies, which you can practice at home.

Avoid Shouting: The most effective home remedy for laryngitis is proper resting of the voice box. In other words, a patient of laryngitis should not indulge in speaking loudly or talking for a long time, which otherwise will cause worsening of the larynx inflammation.

Do Not Whisper: Whispering triggers the inflammation of the larynx. Even though whispering is speaking in a low voice, it puts more strain on the voice box than normal speaking. Thus, a patient of laryngitis should avoid whispering as much as possible.

Breathe Through the Nose: One of the natural laryngitis cures is breathing through the nose. This ensures that the throat is not exposed to cold air and does not dry out, which are observed in case of breathing through the mouth. Read more on basic breathing techniques.

Steam Inhalation: Inhalation of steam and steam bath are effective home treatment methods to cure laryngitis. Take steam inhalation using a bowl of hot water. For a steam bath, close your bathroom and fill it with steam by running very hot water. You can then stay in the bathroom filled with steam for about 10-15 minutes.

Using a Humidifier: A humidifier helps in maintaining the recommended humidity level in a room, which in turn prevents a dry environment. Hence, using a room humidifier is also one of the best cures for laryngitis. Read more on benefits of a humidifier.

Drink Lots of Water: Keeping oneself hydrated helps in shortening the duration of laryngitis symptoms. Drink ample amounts of water everyday (8-10 glasses) to get relief from larynx inflammation.

Lemon and Honey Mixture: You can have tea, prepared with lemon and honey. Boil about 250 ml of water and then squeeze in one lemon and add 2 teaspoons of honey. Drink after the solution cools down.

Moisten Throat: As a dry throat worsens the inflammation of laryngitis, moistening the throat is a good measure for overcoming laryngitis. You can gargle with saline water or chew a piece of your favorite chewing gum.

Say No to Decongestants: Decongestants are strictly not recommended during the onset of laryngitis symptoms. The main reason behind this is that these medications lead to a dry throat, resulting in exacerbation of laryngitis.

Avoid Throat Cleaning: With laryngitis symptoms like a dry and sore throat, it is quite tempting to cough and clean the throat. Coughing and/or cleaning throat increases the degree of irritation to the larynx, and hence should be avoided as far as possible.

Avoid Smoking: Another remedy for laryngitis is to refrain from smoking or inhalation of other hazardous fumes. Smoke and fumes worsen the condition of the larynx, and hence it is advisable to minimize exposure to such irritants for the treatment of laryngitis. Read more on effects of smoking.

In addition to the above tips, there are also homeopathic remedies for laryngitis. If you are planning to administer homeopathic medicines, make sure you purchase them from a reliable brand. In case the symptoms of laryngitis do not subside after practicing laryngitis home remedies, then it is recommended to consult and seek advice from a qualified physician.
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